I haven't been updating this blog quite as often as usual but there's a very good reason for that, namely that I've been working hard. And, because of that, my next book, Sir Edric's Kingdom, is out 22 September, just a few months after Traitor's Prize.

It's the latest tale of Sir Edric's assorted misadventures and misdemeanours, as fate thrusts him into the stewardship of the kingdom when King Lawrence is poisoned. Beset on all sides by murderers and monsters, assassins and invasions, he'll need his wits about him. Fortunately, Sir Edric can count on his allies: Dog, the world's trustiest manservant, Orff No-Balsac, the man-eating slaver, Corkwell, Sir Edric's feisty paramour, and the elven enchantress Lysandra. But will Sir Edric be able to keep the kingdom, and himself, in one piece?

It's a cracking tale of daftness and manly heroics, drunkenness and deviousness. It's also just $0.99 until 29 September, so snap it up. Or wait a bit, and give me some more cash. Either's fine.

It's a weird thing, writing. Tons of work, very few releases, and when stuff is published it's often weeks, months or even years after you finished it. On the other hand, it's quite nice when there's a pipeline of stuff due to come out.

There are now two episodes (of an eventual 12) of Zodiac Eclipse available, for free, on the Kraxon magazine website. It's my first published sci-fi foray, so far Gertrude seems to be going down quite well.

Also recently released is Prey: Seven Tales of Beastly Terror. Seven independent/self-published authors contributed a horror story each, with all proceeds going towards animal charity (WWF). It's my first horror story (many firsts this year). Particular thanks to LK Evans for getting me the last spot on the boat, Tom Conyers for his work putting it together, helping me with feedback and artwork, and Chance Maree for formatting [which can be rather more difficult than it sounds].

An e-book version will be forthcoming, for now it's a physical edition only.

On larger works: Kingdom Asunder's still going through the beta reader mill. I don't envisage enormous changes, but that may change depending on feedback (important to remember when getting critiques you don't have to take *all* advice, and different beta readers may have diametrically opposing views).

As mentioned before, Sir Edric's Temple should be re-released at some point this year. Sir Edric's Treasure will also come out, though that may be early 2016 (both are being published by Tickety Boo Press).

I'm also working on a third Sir Edric adventure, although that's very much in early stages. As always with comedy, I have no idea whether it's amazing, dreadful, or somewhere in between.

So, after a 2014 which largely involved writing lots and few releases, tons of stuff is coming out. Huzzah!

The reason for the fallow year was just a matter of circumstance, in the same way that Journey to Altmortis and Sir Edric’s Temple were released a few months apart in 2013, and didn’t reflect any slowdown in how much I was writing (quite the reverse, to be honest). Hopefully, 2015 will be a bumper harvest.

I’m very glad to announce that the first of 12 episodes in the Zodiac Eclipse mini-series is out now at Kraxon magazine. Zodiac Eclipse tells the tale of Gertrude Jaeger, a crippled bounty hunter coerced into piracy on the infamous ship The Sun Dancer. One thousand word episode will be released each month of 2015.

I’m endeavouring to get Kingdom Asunder self-published this year. It’s hard to say when, precisely, as it’s currently being brutalised by a small army of beta readers, whose hard work beating out the weak spots is greatly appreciated. Kingdom Asunder is a fantasy novel which occurs in the Bane of Souls/Journey to Altmortis world.

Those who enjoy comedy may be pleased to know that the second edition of Sir Edric’s Temple (published by Tickety Boo Press) has been pencilled in for release in 2015. Sir Edric’s Treasure, the follow-up comedy, will also be published by Tickety Boo, possibly this year, possibly next.

I have a number of short stories in the pipeline with several anthologies. They range from sci-fi to steampunk (which was surprisingly fun to write. I’m giving serious consideration to a full-length steampunk novel). Can’t say which will be given the green light, or when precisely they’ll be out, but I’m hoping for at least one short story (within an anthology) to be released in 2015, in addition to the 12 Zodiac Eclipse episodes.

So, at the maximum extent this year could see about sixteen short stories and three solo efforts, and the minimum should be twelve short stories and one solo effort. Either way, it’s a lot more than 2014, so stay tuned for announcements on new releases.

Perhaps the most difficult stage, in terms of making progress, is after the first draft is done and I'm knee-deep in the first redraft (which is pretty hefty for Kingdom Asunder). It's over a year since I started background work (ironically, I only started Sir Edric's Temple, soon to be re-released and traditionally published alongside the sequel, because I didn't want a massive gap between releases) but I'm still miles away from the end. There's no light at the end of the tunnel, yet. I know there will be, but it's a bloody long way off.

I've done most of the redrafting for this first pass. I still need to insert the substantially rewritten portion of the start into the first draft. Almost all the finickity little changes are done and the largest substantial change has been written, but I do still have some more big changes to make.

I'm hopeful it'll be ready for release in 2015. If so, there's a chance I'll have three books coming out that year (Temple's re-release, Sir Edric's Treasure and Kingdom Asunder), not counting several potential short stories as parts of anthologies and another project.

Mind you, that will follow 2014, in which I have released nothing, so it's swings and round-abouts (or peaks and troughs).

I haven't begun making changes yet on Temple and Treasure (editor/publisher suggestions), but I'm hoping there won't be too many or too difficult changes, particularly for Temple, which has generally been well-received.

Back to KA: I anticipate, after finishing everything on the to-do list now, at least two more major redrafts. I have lots of things set in stone but several major plot points are still changeable (mostly a matter of timing rather than reversing decisions). I'm also finding the strange problem of lack of humour, possibly because I spent so much time with Sir Edric and Dog, and their shenanigans are pure comedy.

As the incredibly subtle title may have revealed, I've got one of those publishing deal thingummyjigs with Tickety Boo Press.

In addition to the currently self-published Sir Edric's Temple, Sir Edric's Treasure (the second instalment in The Adventures of Sir Edric) will be released by Tickety Boo at some time in the future.

The books will be sold separately rather than bundled, so if you were one of the wise fellows or ladies who bought Temple already you won't have to fork out for it a second time just so you can read Treasure.

No ETA for release. I'm hoping it'll be sometime next year. The basic text for both is done, though small changes are likely (I shall not be adding the "That's about as tempting a prospect as a handjob from Edward Scissorhands" joke, though. Just too anachronistic).

So, thanks to Tickety Boo for the opportunity, to my beta readers for pointing out the many flaws in my writing, and, most of all the readers, who will hopefully buy Temple and Treasure in enormous numbers to help me walk a little further along the road from struggling artist to obscenely successful writer.

It's been quite some time (far too long, really) since I amended the Books tab above. Possessing the technical aptitude of a cucumber sandwich it took me perhaps longer than it should've, but it looks rather better now.

I did, however, make an unpleasant discovery. Diesel, the e-book store, has closed. It seems to have happened around March this year.

I can't say I used it, usually preferring Amazon and sometimes Smashwords, but it's depressing when a bookstore goes under. More competition in the marketplace is a good a thing.

As well as the other retailers listed on my Books tab (Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, Versent Books and Inktera) it's also well worth checking Abebooks. It's not so much a store as a marketplace for new and second hand books. I've used it a few times, and got a second hand copy of Philippe Contamine's War in the Middle Ages for less than half the cost of a new version.

Speaking of competitive pricing, Malevolence: Tales from Beyond the Veil, is likely to come out within the next couple of weeks. If you pre-order via the publisher's website you can not only enjoy the devastatingly delightful writing (including my short story, Saxon & Khan) that much sooner, you can enjoy getting it for less than the standard retail price as well.

At any one time I'm forgetting something I should be doing. Anyway, I finally put up the cover to Sir Edric's Temple under the Artwork tab. Covers are always tricky, because they're the only part of the work someone else does (well, apart from beta-readers) and I have the artistic insight of a drunken mongoose.Anyway, I was, and am, delighted with the cover, which really captures Sir Edric's character.On that note, I've decided to simplify the reviews in the Links tab. Instead of having a looong list I've just put in one that links to the list on my blog, and another to interviews (which reminds me, I should see about interviewing some more people this year).There are a few 'new' reviews out. Kyra Halland and Duane Vore were both nice and positive about Journey to Altmortis, and Sir Edric's Temple got 4/5 and 5/5 respectively from Boom Baby and Jo Michaels.Thaddeus

Splendid news arrived today. Sir Edric's Temple is now available at Barnes & Noble, Diesel and Apple. In even more exciting news, Sir Edric's Temple is also available in ye olde physical format at Lulu. At less than a fiver it's a splendid and reasonably priced present to get someone for Christmas.In time (2 months, give or take) it will become available through Amazon, but it'll cost nearly £7 there (I discounted the Lulu price). None of that goes to me, it's all to the retailer. So, there's no point waiting for Amazon and you should (if you want a copy of this cracking comedy) buy straight away from Lulu.Thaddeus

Sir Edric's Temple is the first book that I'm going to try and release in a physical format, via Lulu.As it's my first time, I'm sure I'll fumble a bit and make the odd mistake. Given the nature of the beast it'll take longer than formatting for Smashwords or Amazon, as I'll need to receive and assess a first copy. On the plus side, I've got the text and cover sorted, so it's just a question of getting to grips with Lulu.A timetable's hard to try and predict. This is my main priority right now, so if possible it'll be out this month.Pricing's also something I'm undecided on. I think the raw cost (ie with a 0% profit margin for me) will be about £3.50, so to make it as profitable as a digital copy it'd cost about £5. Because of this, I'm thinking of (in the future) releasing 30-40k stories as e-books, and then putting them together into a 90-120k physical amalgamation.And, when this is done, I'll be cracking on, full steam ahead, with Kingdom Asunder.Thaddeus